I have two side-by-side outlets. One does not work at all. I've checked all the connections and cannot get it to work.I noticed that the adjacent box has a black and white wire connected while the error box only had a red and white wire going to the box. Is this right? When I test the wires going into the box, there is no voltage whatsoever.
Black and Red wires are both hot wires. Black is the standard and most common color for hot wire. When red is used instead of black it has some meaning, like maybe the wire is on a switch. Check all the wall switches in the area to see if any of them activate the outlet.
Get a book on Basic Electrical wiring for homes. From your description I suspect that you have a missing wire in the system. The cable with 3 conductors indicates a switched circuit but it should also have a source for the voltage. If you have a switch in the circuit in the room turn it on and test the device for power. Good luck to you.
The non worker may go to a light switch somewherewhen the light is on the power to the outlet is on. Then again it could be a jumper wire(could be purple as color does not matter) The connection does. So take the box out and see how the wiring is wired. But as you are not electrically minded and electricity is not the forgiving kind so find a buddy who is.
The red is most likely serving as the 'hot' or black wire. If there is no voltage at the red wire, you need to trace the source and find out why.
In the 50's they use to split circuit kitchen plugs Black wire to the top half of the plug on 1 breaker the red wire on the bottom half on a different breaker. When you your kit was renovated at some point they separated the plugs and put black on 1 and red on the other. With all that said do you have GFI plugs in the kit. Check them How many plugs do you have in the kit. The problem could be in a plug that is working PS I have never seen a kit plug controlled by a switch Email me if you want more help
